The Maghreban - Connection (Zoot)

What Your Ears Say & The Cover Looks Like

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What We Say

Pre-pandemic I often posted a livelier release on a Friday but during lockdowns dance music lost all sense to me & although the pandemic's end is nowhere in sight, if you need to get your weekend freak on then look no further than The Maghreban's new LP of jazz steppers, global bangers & fired up floor fillers - moody, moreish dancefloor eclecticism at its finest.

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what The Release Notes Say

The album is called “Connection”. I've been working on it since before my last one came out. I could try and come up with some grand narrative to give it meaning and string it all together somehow, but really it’s just some deeper tracks I made that sat together well. There are Middle Eastern, Jazz and Techno influences in some of the songs. I was trying to make stuff that was a little more emotive. 

Here's a small narrative. It’s called Connection because I was seeking and becoming more comfortable with connection whilst making it, rather than keeping myself to myself like I have done in the past. But the flipside of that was a deeper awareness of grief and sorrow. This is why some of the tracks have some sadness. 

It was nice to collaborate with people that I really respect. Abdullah Miniawy has melancholy in his voice, and it complimented the track I gave him. Idris Rahman's saxophone helped me flesh out the eastern jazz element. I told him I like Tubby Hayes. 

Nah Eeto is an incredible rapper who brought a lot of energy to the front of the album and inspired me to experiment with my production in new ways. I always wanted to do some vocal house, and Omar helped me with that. The vocal melody came to me in a dream. I still worry that it’s from someone else’s tune and that I haven’t figured out who yet. Let’s see. 

I worked with Matt Littler again for the artwork. I told him “less grotesque, more serious” compared to the last LP. Maybe that’s also what I was going for with the music. I hope you enjoy it.

CREDITS
​All written by Ayman Rostom with the exception of: 
‘Moving’, ‘Celebratory Relapse’ and ‘Black Seed Oil’ written by Ayman Rostom and Idris Rahman. 
‘Got Your Number’ written by Ayman Rostom and Victoria Digby-Johns. 
‘Anzilli’ written by Ayman Rostom and Abdullah Miniawy. 
‘Waiting’ written by Ayman Rostom and Omar Lyefook. 
All produced and mixed by Ayman Rostom. 
Mastered by Beau Thomas. 
A&R by Andy Whittaker. 
Art by Matt Littler & The Maghreban.

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IF YOU LIKE THE MAGHREBAN THEN YOU MIGHT LIKE THE END OF WEEK FREAK PLAYLIST

You can stream the End of Week Freak playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Youtube & Soundcloud